"Rebuilding" Trailer Drops: Josh O'Connor Faces Life After Wildfire Devastation

Get ready for a powerful and heartfelt story! The official trailer for "Rebuilding" has arrived, giving us a first look at Josh O'connor as a cowboy forced to start over after losing his home to a devastating wildfire.

TL;DR: Everything You Need to Know About "Rebuilding" Right Now

• Josh O'Connor (from "Challengers," "The Crown") stars as Dusty, a cowboy who loses his ranch to a wildfire and navigates life in a FEMA camp, reconnecting with his family.
• Directed by Max Walker-Silverman ("A Love Song"), the film is a "gently humanist story" exploring resilience and community in the American West.
• "Rebuilding" premiered to acclaim at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and hits select U.S. theaters on November 14, 2025, with a wider release on November 21, 2025.

A Glimpse into the Heartbreaking Yet Hopeful Journey of Rebuilding

We've just been treated to the official trailer for "Rebuilding," and it's clear this film is going to hit you right in the feels. Straight from Bleecker Street, the trailer introduces us to Dusty, played by the incredibly versatile Josh O'Connor. If you've loved his work in everything from "The Crown" to "Challengers," get ready to see him in a whole new light – a quiet, rugged cowboy facing the unthinkable.

The premise alone is enough to grab your attention: after wildfires tragically consume his ranch, Dusty finds himself in a FEMA camp. It's not just his home that's gone; his entire way of life is up in smoke. But amid the ashes, he begins to find something unexpected: community with other folks who've lost everything, and a chance to reconnect with his ex-wife, Ruby (Meghann Fahy), and their young daughter, Callie-Rose (Lily LaTorre).

This isn't just another disaster movie; it's a "gently humanist story of the American West," according to the filmmakers. It's about what happens after the devastation, the painstaking, often messy, but ultimately hopeful process of piecing a life back together. Set against the stunning (and sometimes stark) backdrop of southern Colorado, "Rebuilding" promises to be a moving portrait of human connection and resilience.

Max Walker-Silverman's Vision: From Personal Loss to Universal Hope

At the helm of "Rebuilding" is American indie filmmaker Max Walker-Silverman, whose previous work, "A Love Song" (2022), also explored themes in the Colorado landscape. It's clear that the American West isn't just a setting for Walker-Silverman; it's a living, breathing character, shaped by both beauty and brutal forces. His connection to this story runs deep, stemming from a very personal experience.

The concept for "Rebuilding" was born from a devastating wildfire in 2020 that destroyed his own grandmother's home. He shared his observations about returning to the property: "It's a beautiful green forest again... The stream is back and life is back. But it's not the same." This observation of nature's return, coupled with the "weird knowledge" that this new growth could become "fuel for another fire," became the philosophical engine for the film. It poses a profound question: how do you call a place home when you know impermanence is a fundamental law of life?

Filming in a forest that had burned years prior presented its own unique set of challenges. Nature, it turns out, doesn't care about production schedules! Walker-Silverman recounted how the crew "had to hide from new growth," even resorting to "a team of people running around with black biodegradable paint to cover it up and paint it out." This struggle against the elements became a metaphor for filmmaking itself, which he jokingly described as "just naively charging forward in the face of certain disaster." Yet, just like the fires, these challenges often "bring out the best in people," creating unexpected moments of beauty.

"What I've come to believe is that hope is not an outcome; it's an exercise. I feel despair as often as I refresh The New York Times, but I remind myself that hope is a choice. Despair has never led me to get anything good done."

— Max Walker-Silverman, Director of "Rebuilding"

The Incredible Cast Bringing This Story to Life on Screen

Leading this talented ensemble is Josh O'Connor as Dusty. Walker-Silverman knew he needed an actor who could embody a quiet, reserved character stripped of everything that once defined him. He sought someone with "a bottomless well of soul," and O'Connor proved to be the perfect fit. O'Connor himself expressed his excitement for varied roles, telling ScreenRant, "I like playing someone who I have no clue what I'm doing — it's terrifying and exciting." His ability to convey internal struggle and vulnerability is a hallmark of his career, from his breakthrough in "God's Own Country" to his more recent projects.

Joining O'Connor are some other fantastic actors who round out this moving story:

• Meghann Fahy as Ruby, Dusty's ex-wife (you might recognize her from "The White Lotus" Season 2)
• Lily LaTorre as Callie-Rose, their young daughter
• Amy Madigan
• Kali Reis (recently seen in "True Detective: Night Country")
• Nancy Morlan
• Zeilyanna Martinez

The film delves into Dusty's tender relationships, particularly with Callie-Rose and Ruby, as he navigates his new existence. O'Connor's portrayal, praised by critics, is about a man who is "unwilling to imagine a different future," showcasing how resistance to change can manifest even in silence.

Why Critics are Praising This Empathetic and Timely Drama

"Rebuilding" already generated significant buzz when it premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival this January. Critics have been quick to highlight its quiet power and humanistic approach. David Ehrlich of IndieWire, for example, called it a "delicate drama" and a film "the movie people need right now," underscoring its timely resonance in an era of ecological anxieties.

The film's strength lies in its ability to show, rather than tell, the emotional toll and the slow, arduous path to healing. Reviewers have lauded O'Connor's performance, noting his ability to "do more with a slight shake of his head than some actors could with an entire Shakespearean monologue." The use of minimal dialogue and "striking visuals" further enhances the portrayal of grief, resilience, and the enduring strength of community in the face of loss. Currently, "Rebuilding" boasts a positive 96% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, a testament to its honest and impactful storytelling.

Walker-Silverman's philosophical approach, centered on "disciplined, active hope," permeates the film. He believes art has "not just the ability, but the responsibility, to play that role, to be hopeful, even naive about it." "Rebuilding" embodies this, acknowledging the desolation but steadfastly focusing on the "difficult, essential work of starting over, together."

Mark Your Calendars: "Rebuilding" Arrives in Theaters This November

After its strong festival run, including a screening at the Santa Fe International Film Festival, "Rebuilding" is ready to make its way to a wider audience. Bleecker Street is handling the distribution, bringing this must-see indie gem to cinemas just in time for late fall.

If you're looking for a film that offers empathy, quiet reflection, and a powerful message about human endurance, make sure to add "Rebuilding" to your watch list. It's a story that feels both timeless and incredibly relevant, reminding us of the strength we can find in ourselves and in each other, even after everything seems lost.

The film's 95-minute runtime means it's a tight, focused narrative that gets straight to the heart of the matter without overstaying its welcome. So, prepare for a captivating experience that promises to leave you moved and perhaps, a little more hopeful.

Frequently Asked Questions About Max Walker-Silverman's "Rebuilding"

• When does "Rebuilding" come out in theaters? "Rebuilding" will first be released in select U.S. theaters on November 14, 2025, and then expand nationwide on November 21, 2025.
• Who are the main stars of "Rebuilding"? The film stars Josh O'Connor as Dusty, Meghann Fahy as Ruby, and Lily LaTorre as Callie-Rose. Other cast members include Amy Madigan and Kali Reis.
• What is "Rebuilding" about? "Rebuilding" tells the story of Dusty, a cowboy who loses his ranch in a devastating wildfire and is forced to rebuild his life and relationships while living in a FEMA trailer community.
• Where was "Rebuilding" filmed? The film was shot against the backdrop of southern Colorado, specifically in the San Luis Valley, about 70 miles from Norwood, Colorado.

Sources

• First Showing: "Full Trailer for Father-Daughter Film 'Rebuilding' with Josh O'Connor" (October 14, 2025)
• The Santa Fe New Mexican: "'Rebuilding' director Walker-Silverman on wildfires, filmmaking and choosing hope"
• IndieWire: "'Rebuilding' Trailer: Josh O'Connor Starts Over After a Devastating Wildfire" (By Christian Blauvelt, October 14, 2025)
• The Wrap: "Josh O'Connor Finds a New Home After Devastating Wildfires in 'Rebuilding' Trailer" (By Casey Loving, October 14, 2025)
• Mashable: "Josh O'Connor turns cowboy in 'Rebuilding' trailer" (By Belen Edwards, October 14, 2025)
• Paste Magazine: "First Trailer for Rebuilding Captures Josh O'Connor Amid the Ashes of the American West" (By Audrey Weisburd, October 14, 2025)
• The A.V. Club: "The dejected Josh O'Connor universe expands in elegiac Rebuilding trailer" (By Emma Keates, October 14, 2025)
• ScreenRant: "Josh O'Connor Transforms Into Rugged Cowboy After Wildfire Devastation In Rebuilding Trailer" (October 14, 2025)
• The Film Stage: "Rebuilding Trailer: Josh O'Connor Reassembles His Life" (By Jordan Raup, October 14, 2025)